Senior Corporate Counsel

Location: San Jose, Camarillo, San Diego, Irvine, California or Richmond, British Colombia, Ottawa or Burlington, Ontario

Job Summary:

As a Senior Corporate Counsel, you will serve as a key legal advisor specializing in intellectual property and commercial contract matters for Semtech's global business operations. You will lead complex IP and contract negotiations, provide strategic counsel on patent prosecution and licensing, and collaborate with cross-functional teams, including R&D, business development, and operations, to ensure the company navigates sophisticated legal challenges in the semiconductor industry.  The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in IP law, complex commercial contracts, and business transactions, with proven expertise in the technology or semiconductor sectors and a track record of managing high-stakes IP and contract matters.

Responsibilities:

Intellectual Property Management

•  Support comprehensive IP strategy aligned with business objectives
•  Manage and coordinate patent prosecution, trademark registration, and copyright protection efforts of external counsel
• Negotiate and draft complex IP licensing agreements and
• Oversee IP portfolio management and competitive landscape analysis
• Collaborate with R&D teams on invention disclosure and patent strategy
• Manage relationships with outside IP counsel

Commercial Contracts and Transactions

• Lead negotiation of high-value and complex commercial contracts, including master supply agreements, licensing agreements, technology transfer agreements, sales/distribution/reseller agreements, SaaS agreements, strategic partnerships and others
• Provide strategic guidance to business teams on contract structures, risk allocation, and deal terms
•  Enhance and maintain contract templates, playbooks, and best practices for the organization
• Ensure contracts comply with applicable laws, company policies, and strategic business objectives
• Manage relationships with key commercial partners and resolve complex contractual disputes

Corporate Legal Support

• Support M&A transactions from IP and contract perspective, including due diligence and transaction structuring
• Provide counsel on corporate governance matters related to IP and commercial transactions
• Draft and review merger, acquisition, joint venture, and strategic partnership agreements
• Support preparation of public disclosures related to IP matters and material contracts

Leadership and Strategic Advisory

• Serve as subject matter expert on IP and contract matters for cross-functional teams
• Partner with executive leadership to align IP and contract strategy with business objectives
• Lead cross-functional legal projects requiring IP and contract expertise

Minimum Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school
• Active membership in good standing with the bar
• 6-10 years of experience in IP law and technology transactions, with extensive focus on licensing, and  commercial contracts,
• Proven track record managing complex, high-value transactions and legal matters
• Strong experience with semiconductor industry or technology sector transactions
• Demonstrated leadership and mentoring experience with legal professionals
• Exceptional drafting, negotiation, and communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously under tight deadlines
• Proven ability to work independently and provide strategic legal counsel to senior management

Desired Qualifications

• Previous in-house counsel experience at publicly traded technology or semiconductor companies
• Experience with international transactions and cross-border legal matters
• Knowledge of corporate governance best practices and regulatory trends
• Strong business acumen with demonstrated ability to balance legal risk with business objectives
• Experience managing outside counsel relationships and legal budgets
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Strategic thinker with ability to provide practical, business-oriented legal solutions
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to navigate complex regulatory environments
• Collaborative leadership style with proven ability to influence and build relationships across all organizational levels
• Self-motivated and adaptable, with demonstrated success in fast-paced, dynamic environments

The intent of this job description is to describe the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. Incumbents may be required to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically included in this description.

All duties and responsibilities are essential job functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an EEO employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace.

A reasonable estimate of the pay range for this position is US: $230,000 - $250,000, CAN: CAD 195,000-215,000 There are several factors taken into consideration in determining base salary, including but not limited to: job-related qualifications, skills, education and experience, as well as job location and the value of other elements of an employee’s total compensation package.

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